Corpse Bride dead upon arrival
Danny Elfman's newest work lacks organization and cohesiveness.
Oct. 7, 2005
Tim Burton always walks the line between eerie and family friendly. Danny Elfman, who has collaborated with Burton on films such as "Beetlejuice" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," walks the same line.
Elfman once again has joined forces with Burton on his most recent film, "Corpse Bride," creating the score and songs for the soundtrack. "Corpse Bride" is no different from these other films, and its soundtrack — taking disorganization and creepiness to a new level — isn't either. The soundtrack, though a noble effort on Elfman's part, cannot stand on its own but must lean upon the plot and characters of Burton's film.
Elfman describes his musical style as "odd, slightly twisted, obscure." The first four songs of the soundtrack, however, sound almost exactly the same. The only way to differentiate between them is the vocal portion of "According to Plan" and the silence between tracks.
"According to Plan" does bring up an interesting point by presenting a somber view of marriage, particularly with the lyrics, "Do you suppose your father and I like each other? Of course not!"
The instrumental track "New Arrival" is the most animated of the soundtrack's songs. The song is jazz and swing-inspired, providing a much-needed respite from the otherwise eerily calm soundtrack. Unfortunately, it only lasts 42 seconds.
"The Wedding Song" begins with all the vocalists chanting, "A wedding, a wedding, we're going to have a wedding." The chanting continues until one begins to wonder if these animated characters are lurking down the hall. The song later moves to a more upbeat tune and follows with a gospel sound, only to move back to the upbeat tune. The song skips from genre to genre too much to be appreciated.
That is the case with many of the other songs on the soundtrack, such as "The Party Arrives," which moves back and forth between the sounds of slow and eerie stringed instruments and the rushed sounds of horns and drumbeats. By the end, you have a headache and can't wait to leave the "Party." Overall, the soundtrack to "Corpse Bride" displays a strong sense of disorganization.
The soundtrack is tough to judge standing apart from its film. Some songs, such as "Into The Forest," conjure up excellent imagery, placing the listener in a strange and whimsical forest. The rest of the album, on the other hand, fails to do the same. Although many of the songs are performed, they lack vibrancy. Much like the bride in the film, the songs are dead.
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